Is the 2019-2020 Flu Shot Effective?

The 2019-2020 flu season started early and has taken its toll on at least 9.7 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A recent report from the CDC warns the main strain of this year's flu virus is "not a very good match" to the flu vaccine administered this year. The 2019-2020 flu season has been particularly unusual. Influenza B, the viral strain that usually circulates toward the end of flu season, instead emerged first this year, shifting usual transmission patterns. A vaccine mismatch and reduced immunity to influenza B may have contributed to the early and severe start of this flu season. The influenza vaccine this year is "not a very good match for B/Victoria," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "It's not an awful match, but it's not a very good match." Twice a year, once in February and again in September, the World Health Organization (WHO) reviews study results for the flu vaccine and then makes recommendations for the specific viruses that should be targeted in a year's flu vaccine. Simply put, health officials targeted the more common virus strain and the unlikely strain is more predominant this year. Health officials say influenza A has been the dominant flu strain for 27 years in the United States. Influenza B viruses have not been the predominant virus since 1992-93, until this year's flu season. The CDC's weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report indicates B/Victoria strains have been reported more frequently this season than influenza A, even though the B strain of the virus typically circulates near the end of the flu season in the spring. The 2019-2020 flu shot was formulated to protect against strains of both influenza A and B, but it's still too soon to definitively state the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, early indications suggest the vaccine is quite well-matched to circulating H1N1 and B Yamagata viruses— but much less so against the widespread influenza B Victoria viruses, which may explain the the early-season diagnoses. The influenza B virus infection is more common among children and can cause complications, resulting in hospitalization or death, according to the CDC. Cumulative data from the CDC's public health laboratories states that 58% of people tested for the flu are showing positive results for influenza B, while only 42% are testing positive for influenza A. In other words, if your child is exposed to influenza B, there's a 42% chance their flu shot will not protect them. Despite the influenza B statistics, the CDC continues to recommend that everyone receive their flu shot as it offers the best protection during the influenza season. As with all pharmaceuticals, influenza vaccines carry a risk of an adverse event when administered. If you or a loved one has experienced shoulder pain or Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after a recent flu shot or other vaccine, please contact our vaccine attorney who can discuss the prospects of your particular case. [Click here to see if you are eligible for compensation][1] [1]: https://www.vaccineawarenesscenter.com/contact/